OK, so it’s not like smurf-blue, but still: Blue hardwood! It comes from Talipariti elatum, the so-called “Blue Mahoe” tree, which is native to the Caribbean and is, apparently, the national tree of Jamaica. Turns out it also grows very quickly and shows some promise for sustainable forestry. Lumber is available through Tropic Ventures.
Here’s a traditional wood-bending technique that seems ready-made for CNC millers, and yet I can’t find much online evidence that it’s being done. To make a kerf-bend, the wood is first corrugated on the inside of the intended radius. The width, depth, number, and spacing of the kerfs all affect the qualities of the finished […]
Turns out you can bend lumber into some pretty amazing shapes if you first soften it by exposure to steam. Just how long it needs to “soak” in the steam varies with the species and thickness of the wood in question, but the necessary equipment is dirt cheap. This great tutorial over at the Dewalt […]
I wanted to share this email from Eleanor M. Rust who wrote to say that community colleges in California are a great resource for makers who want to learn new skills. I just bought my first copy of MAKE after being a CRAFT reader for a while, and I’m really enjoying it! But a remark […]
MAKE subscriber Dug North sent us a link to Steve Garrison’s amazing wooden gear window blinds made from walnut slats and frame, pecan handles, and cherry gears and pulleys. Window Blinds
My friend, and fellow Dorkbot DC and HacDC cohort, R. Mark Adams made this simple portable workbench out of plywood and basic hardware. He added some nifty features, like a wire spooler underneath the hinged top (with tool storage inside), two working angles (a drafting angle and a flat-top work surface) using hinged “ears” to […]
If you’ve ever tried to tamp espresso in a single spout portafilter, you’ll know that it tends to wobble around, due to the single, offset contact point with the surface you rest it on. CoffeeGeek forum member Juanjo Viagran shows off his ingenuity and woodworking skills with this beautiful portafilter holder.
